A firefighter who after retiring went on to save residents plagued by disasters died from a heart-attack fueled by a 9/11 related lung injury.

Luis Fragoso, 59, who once fought fires for Ladder 53 in Harlem and Engine 83 in the Bronx died of a heart attack in his home on Monday, says friend Lt. Rico Diaz to The New York Daily News.

Fragoso suffered lung injuries following the 9/11 terror attacks against the World Trade center in New York that forced him to retire back in 2002 but that didn't stop him from leading FDNY DART, an organization that helps people affected by disasters.

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Retired firefighter Luis Fragoso, 59, died of a heart attack at his home on Monday

Despite being physically injured, Fragoso went on to become the head of a team that helps people suffering the aftermath of distasters like Hurricane Katrina and The Oklahoma City bombing.

'(Helping out in Hurricane Hugo) was an outstanding achievement for the FDNY and Fragoso and several others wanted to continue helping others,' Fragoso's friend and colleague Rico Diaz said.